Steve Lake

Fifteen years ago, Lake and his partners (in their 20s at the time) began designing and producing their own line of skateboards. Quickly, they became hot commodities in the skateboarding community, with young people clamoring to get their hands on a custom Sector 9 Board. In 1993, you could get your hands on a board for $25, built in co-founder Dennis Telfer’s basement. By 1998, Sector 9 was a $4 million dollar operation, complete with 40 employees and a host of competitors.

And yet, commercial success hasn’t phased Lake or allowed him to lose sight of his Bro status. Despite the fact that he’s the president of a multimillion dollar company, Lake still regularly wears shorts and rides his skateboard to work. He refuses to allow corporate politics or growth interfere with the laidback, casual, quality feel of Sector 9, citing ‘flexibility’ as his top priority at work. Still, these are Bros who know how to get the job done: the company now produces over 100,000 skateboards a year and sells them not only in the United States, but in dozens of countries around the world.

All the hard work has paid off: Billabong recently acquired Sector 9 for an undisclosed amount rumored to be in the ballpark of $20 million. Lake will stay on with Telfer and co-owner Dave Klimkiewicz as Sector 9 becomes a part of the international brand. Although they’re merging with a major manufacturer, it’s certain that Sector 9 won’t lose any of its skateboarding attitude or culture – Steve Lake will see to that.